Abstract：From the perspective of social semiotics, the consecutive interpreting note is a multi-modal text, and the interpreter’s writing and reading of signs are actually visual communications. With the aid of digital pen technology, a quantitative study was conducted on the note-taking process of trainee interpreters and professional interpreters. The results show that, compared with interpreting trainees, professional interpreters used more vectors, geometrical shapes, compositions, frames and saliences but less calligraphies. Further analysis of the note-taking of professional interpreters shows that the number of signs is positively correlated with interpreting quality; the responding time is negatively correlated with interpreting quality; the note-taking time is positively correlated with interpreting accuracy but is negatively correlated with interpreting fluency. Though professional interpreters spent more time on reaction, they used various categories of visual signs in a more balanced way so as to gain more resources through different channels and improve their interpreting quality. This research not only sheds light on the nature of consecutive interpreting notes as visual resources and the process of note-taking, but also may offer reference to note-taking training.
Key words: consecutive interpreting note-taking; visual grammar; signs; digital pen technology
